Your Guide to Organic & All Natural Beauty Brands in Asia
Reading Time: 8 minutesEver walked out of a beauty store feeling dizzy, overwhelmed and confused? We’re here to help you take the pain out of beauty.
There’s no better way to support sustainable, chemical-free and paraben-free skincare companies than with our wallets. Plus, when it comes to skincare, we believe in using only the best and only what actually works. Here’s our A-Z guide on the whys, whats and whos of Organic, All-natural and totally good for you beauty products that’ll help you look like the best version of you.
The WHY:
Why should you care about using organic, all-natural and sustainable beauty products?
The answer is simple: It’s better for you and it’s better for the earth, too. Beauty is not just skin deep; 60% of the products we use on our skin are absorbed and deposited into our circulatory systems. That’s a little scary when you think about all the chemicals and toxins commonly used in our everyday skincare products, such as parabens, fragrances, formaldehyde, and diethanolamine- all of which are known to cause hormone disruption and skin irritation. Some of them are also known carcinogens.
Additionally, when you wash that lotion or soap off your body and it goes down the drain, all of those harmful chemicals end up in our local water systems, marine life and ecosystems, too. So when you choose organic, chemical-free products, it really does make a difference to more than just you.
The WHAT:
What’s the difference between your regular beauty products and all-natural, organic and sustainable ones? What does “organic” and “all-natural” and “sustainable” really mean?
Organic, all-natural beauty products are made with real (not synthetic) ingredients, which are sustainably, ethically harvested and do not contain any chemicals or toxins. They are carefully researched, tested and proven to work.
“Organic” means the ingredients used were farmed without the use of pesticides.
“All-natural” means the product is made only with naturally derived materials and is free of synthetic chemicals, dyes, fragrances, and irritants.
“Sustainable” means that the product was farmed in a way that is the least damaging to the environment, and does not strip the area or the local community of its natural resources.
The difference is night and day: With organic products, you know exactly what’s going on your skin and where it came from. With conventional cosmetics, you really don’t.
The WHO:
With a market overflowing with millions of different skincare and beauty products, who can you really trust these days? We’ve got your back- here are the brands that we love and trust.
AFRICOLOGY
Traditional African Skincare, Haircare and Bodycare
(SGD $19 – $1,717)
Africology believes that inner beauty transcends skincare, and they aim to harm none by being conscious of our planet and all who inhabit it. Their formulations are enhanced with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are bio-identical to your biology. They are cruelty-free, and their use of only pure essential oils means everything they make smells amazing, too!
What’s available – cleansers, toners, serums, moisturisers, exfoliators, masks, men’s grooming, hair care, sun care, lip care, massage oils
APRES AVANT
Conscious Beauty and Skincare Multi Brand Store
(SGD $26 – $194)
Apres Avant are firm believers of conscious living and have a multi-brand beauty e-store. From beauty to nutrition, wellness to psychology, the site offers a cherry-picked curation of content and products. Their philosophy is to exercise wholesome daily choices with mindfulness. This is the site to go to if you want to buy from multiple brands, and products that are tried and tested to be good for you.
What’s available – plant based supplements, various skincare brands from breauty, to skincare, to haircare products, activated charcoal toothpaste
AYELLI
Pure Organic Argan Oil For Hair & Skin
(SGD $68)
Ayelli only sells one thing and one thing only: liquid gold. Otherwise known as Pure, 100% Moroccan Argan Oil, made from 100% premium grade Argania Spinosa kernels. Argan oil has twice the percentage of tocopherols and vitamin E as olive oil, making it a powerful antioxidant that moisturizes and relieves inflammation, while also taming and softening unruly, frizzy hair. So if you’re pulling your hair out trying to find a good hair care regime, this is for you. It also has a wonderful ability to balance your skin out – from the oiler sections to the dry.
What’s available – organic argan oil for face and hair
BICONI
Natural Beauty and Regrowth Shampoos Harvested From Nature
(SGD $5 – $100)
Biconi cherishes the amazing biodiversity of South East Asia, and aims to share its many wonders with the world. Their food-grade virgin coconut oil is grown and made by their local partners in Malaysia and is featured in every single product they carry. They also grow their own noni, a miracle ingredient. They are cruelty-free, have a baby line, and have created a line of shampoos and conditioners to tackle hair regrowth and balding.
What’s available – facial serum, face cleansing bars, virgin coconut oil, almond oil, argan oil, shampoo bar (for hair regrowth), conditioner, baby massage oil, baby gentle soap, men’s grooming
BLACK PAINT
Microbiome Skincare
(SGD $9.90 – $120)
Black Paint believes that healthy skin is a commitment, not a miracle. They’re specially formulated to nourish and protect the bacteria that maintain beautiful skin naturally, as opposed to stripping your skin and killing them off. They focus on the microbiome of your skin. Their products use more than 100 types of plant oils, more than 50 types of essential oils and Kishu Bichotan Charcoal, which is suitable for various skin and body parts. If you’re looking to restore your face to its natural state of beauty, head their way.
What’s available – face cleansing bars, exfoliating facial sponge, toners, moisturisers, serums, balms, natural sunscreen
FRANKSKINCARE
Organic Small-batch Skincare
(SGD $22 – $118)
Frank Skincare’s products are all made in small batches, with a focus on achieving healthy skin for everyone. They believe that quality and freshness in skincare products will deliver stellar benefits to your skin. Proudly produced, formulated and packaged right here in Singapore, you can’t get any more local than this. Their products are light and specifically designed for the tropics.
What’s available – face oil, face mist, spot treatment oils, masks, body oil
LUXE BOTANICS
Luxury Plant-Powered Skincare
(SGD $2 – $109)
Luxe Botanics are all about nature’s most time-honoured, visibly proven botanical ingredients. With only true-to-nature ingredients, sustainably harvested to preserve the environment and yet still able to completely transform your skin, you’ve got to give their elixirs a try. Winner of two Beauty Shortlist Awards (2018), they most definitely will not disappoint. Plus, every single purchase you make supports a community in Africa- so if you want to feel beautiful both inside and out, this is the company for you.
What’s available – clensers, mousturisers, serums
SKINCARE CO
Solid Shampoos & Conditioners
(SGD $25)
Skincare Co specialises in solid shampoos and conditioners that are zero-waste and plastic-free. Crafted from only the finest ingredients, they’re here to make your transition into living a greener lifestyle stylish and easy. They foam wonderfully, clean thorougly and leave your hair feeling smooth and silky. If you’ve been holding back on making the switch- here’s your sign, your push to go ahead and start living #zerowaste now.
What’s available – solid shampoo and conditioner
SVEN’S ISLAND
100% Natural Personal Care Products
(SGD $9.50 – $69)
Sven was once amazed by the healing properties of the Manuka tree, and proceeded to devoted years of his life to researching and extracting the very best of the healing properties of this unique, native New Zealand tree, in order to create a 100% natural, no-nonsense skincare range that the whole world can believe in. If you’re after a simple and fuss-free routine, this is it.
What’s available – face care, body care, baby cream, face cleanser, lip balm
SOAPER’S DELIGHT
Handcrafted Soaps, Balms & Deodrants
(SGD $6 – $34)
Soaper Delights offers handcrafted all soaps, balms & deodorants that are formulated using vegetable oils, butters, clays, herbal infusions and they are scented with natural essential oils. They enjoy creating skin-loving soaps and delighted on offering them to customers at affordable prices. They sell only products that they truly believe in and they personally test each and every product.
What’s available – soaps, sunscreen, laundry soap bar, vegan cheek and lip tint, natural toothpaste, organic face oil, bug off balm, masks
UTAMA SPICE
Natural and Pure Essential Oil Lifestyle Products
(SGD $6.50 – $130)
Utama Spice believes in making products so simple and natural that you could even eat them if you wanted to. Their ingredient list is short, everything is handmade and they never use any sulfates, parabens, chemical binding agents, artificial fragrances or colouring, or synthetics of any kind. If you’re looking to give your skin the respect it deserves, look no further than them.
What’s available – lip balms, masks, moisturisers, scrubs, shampoos, soaps, bug spray, essential oils, incense
ZERO YET 100
Natural Deodorant
(SGD $10 – $25)
On the lookout for a cleaner, all-natural and chemical-free alternative to deodorant? We’ve got the answer to your prayers right here. With their commitment to procuring the purest natural ingredients, exhaustive research and intensive testing, you are 100% guaranteed to not stink while also not putting any more harmful toxins or chemicals on your body. Ready to swap to a cleaner, greener routine? Zero Yet 100 is calling you.
What’s available – natural deodorant pots, sticks and detox packs
We hereby officially declare you a new organic, all-natural beauty product guru.
Your journey to a better you doesn’t have to end here. Check out our conscious directory to see how else you can be a greener you.
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